David Rosenblatt, 34

DoubleClick Inc., President

Photo: Buck Ennis

Where is David now?

Chief executive, 1stdibs
Updated October 12, 2012
By Lisa Fickenscher

David Rosenblatt's interest in Asia and mastery of the Chinese language has little bearing on his job as president of an Internet advertising company—except for one thing. Five years ago, his accomplishments gave him the confidence to accept a big job at DoubleClick, heading a new technology division.

At the time, he had little professional experience, having just earned an M.B.A. from Stanford. "Learning Chinese is the ultimate mountain to scale," says Mr. Rosenblatt, who lived in Taiwan as an undergraduate and later worked in Hong Kong as an investment banker for S.G. Warburg. "I knew I could find my way at DoubleClick."

Indeed. Mr. Rosenblatt has transformed a fledgling unit into the company's most profitable division. Last year, DoubleClick rewarded him by promoting him to president. The technology business, which includes email and database marketing, now accounts for 50% of DoubleClick's $405 million in revenues.

Mr. Rosenblatt's career could easily have taken a different trajectory. His first job after college was with the junior investment banker program at S.G. Warburg. He was asked to stay three years—one year longer than the traditional stint. When he left for Stanford, the firm, now UBS Warburg, told him that he'd have a job waiting for him after he got his degree. He turned down the offer.

"My strength is managing people rather than giving advice," Mr. Rosenblatt says.

His people skills were tested when DoubleClick acquired competitor NetGravity in 1999. But "David got two competing sales forces to work together," says Kevin Ryan, chief executive of DoubleClick.